Get great plants and expert advice from area professionals this year at Plant Sale with the Pros. The sale features everything from annuals and perennials to ornamental grasses and shrubs. Olbrich’s staff carefully chooses unique plants that do best in this climate. Find the newest, hardiest, disease-resistant cultivars on the market. Local plant pros, master gardeners, and Olbrich’s horticulturists will be available to answer questions.

Proceeds from the plant sale benefit Olbrich Botanical Gardens. Shop early since quantities are limited. Shoppers are encouraged to bring cartons, wagons, or boxes for carrying plants. Cash, checks, MasterCard, Visa, and Discover are accepted. Maximize your support of the Gardens by using cash or check.

Early Bird Shopping

Got your eye on a particular plant? All Plant Sale with the Pros shoppers can take advantage of an Early Bird Shopping opportunity. By giving a $20 per person donation, or $30 per couple, you can shop from 9 to 11 a.m. on Friday before the sale officially opens. Patron, Benefactor, Angel, Lifetime/Circle, and Legacy Society Members shop early for free!

Member Benefits

Members save 20% off purchases in the Growing Gifts shop on May 9. New and renewing members receive a free subscription to Better Homes & Gardens Magazine, as well.

An annual individual membership to the Olbrich Botanical Society starts at $40 and includes many other benefits throughout the year. Call 608-246-4724 for more information on membership or

click here. Or, just sign up to become a member at the Plant Sale with the Pros.

Pro Potting Bench & Inspiration Station

Pro Potting Bench

Take advantage of free container design
and pottingservices at the Plant Pro Potting Bench. Get help selecting
the best plants for a stunning container garden or hanging basket...then let a professional
plant them for you! Bring your own containers or purchase one at the sale, including colorful glazed terra cotta containers.

Design Stations

Refresh a lack-luster garden area at the Design Station during a short, 20 minute consultation. Local landscape architects will sketch out basic garden designs on the spot using your printed photos and feedback. Be sure to note the features of areas in your landscape, for example, how much water is received, lighting conditions, existing plantings, etc.

Plants

Plant Sale with the Pros features
everything from annuals and perennials to ornamental grasses and
shrubs. Choose cultivars on the market including tropical plants
that will fire up your garden, small-scale garden conifers, herbs,
and butterfly plants along with hundreds of annuals and perennials.
Find rare shrubs and trees, including hardy shrub roses that thrive
in the challenging Wisconsin climate.

Plant Lists

Plant selection cannot be guaranteed and is subject to change at any time.

Plants listed may not be available at the sale due to supplier availability and substitutions.

Plant Sale with the Pros is your chance to get personal advice on choosing the right plants for your garden from local garden experts and Olbrich horticulturists who can share their know-how on roses, herbs, perennials, trees, container gardens, and more. Also, shoppers are encouraged to bring a photo of their garden and get landscape design advice from area landscape architects. Here's what the pros themselves think about Olbrich's Plant Sale with the Pros:

"This event is a great opportunity for gardening enthusiasts to share in the wealth of knowledge from all of the Olbrich horticulturists and staff. They order what they use and like, so we all benefit!”

Pat Saiki, ASLA

Ken Saiki Design

“The Olbrich Plant Sale is very unique, mainly due to the plants sold there - many are hard, if not impossible, to find at any local source. Also, you have an amazing group of seasoned veterans available to answer any plant, horticulture, or landscape question a person may have. It’s just a very enjoyable couple of days for people to experience Olbrich Botanical Gardens.”

Paul Ganshert

Ganshert Nursery and Landscapes

“As UW Emeritus Professor of Horticulture with a specialization in landscape plants, I have volunteered at the Olbrich plant sale each year since my retirement in 1994. Olbrich horticulturists select the newest and best hardy cultivars of trees, shrubs, and vines to offer at this sale. Our role as volunteer plant experts is to assist customers in selecting the right plant for their particular planting situation. I’ve had the opportunity to assist many satisfied repeat customers over the years!”

Ed Hasselkus

UW Emeritus Professor of Horticulture

“I can recommend shopping at Olbrich’s annual plant sale with a single plant name, Acer tschonoskii. I’ve had this lovely, small-scale ornamental maple for more than 10 years and it graces my front garden where everyone can see it as a specimen tree. Olbrich does an admirable job of finding rare and unusual plants like this and I have placed a variety of them in my garden over the years!”

Ed Lyon, Director

Allen Centennial Gardens

Book Sale

If you're in the market for some new-to-you gardening information, stop by the used book sale at the Schumacher Library on Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and grow your green thumb!